#Santa cruz chameleon single speed full#

If you don't notice much of a difference. the tires might roll slower but you can run softer pressure and get good support and better rebound behavior. The buy-in is a lot less, and if your goal is to go fast and take hits. If it were me, i'd be tempted to get some sort of 29x2.3 2 ply tires before faffing with budget b+. The hubs will last until the standard is obsolete, and the rims/spokes will last until you don't realize you burped a tire 3 miles ago. My current favorite budget wheelset is a dt350 rear hub, generic front hub, and RF offset rims. I never look at prebuilt wheelsets- they're always marginally underbuilt (i'm hard on wheels so it's a total no-go) and they often do dumb stuff to hit a target price point or weight. You will need to get the right freehub to have a direct swap, but they are. They're both worth owning, but neither are worth buying a la carte, if that makes sense. The replacement wheelset can make the same claim. Your current wheelset has acceptable price-point hubs and cheap/decent rims. The chameleon is optimized for neither wheel size. At least if you ride clipless and don't mind an occasional pedal touch. All-in, this Chameleon is a well-considered mingling of the coolest stuff made in America, built as a well-balanced hardtail just as capable of nailing a sunset Bonneville Shoreline ride as it is ready to load up for all-day backcountry fun.I see no problem with running the chameleon with 650b tires, even without going Plus.

#Santa cruz chameleon single speed full#

The Hope Tech 3 E4 four-piston brakes will take full advantage of those tires Hope makes brakes with a whole lot of power and finishes that feel in line with the White Industries, King, and even Paul components on the bike. 29 x 2.6” tires are, in our eyes, a happy medium of rollover, grip, and cornering support for those looking for a bit more comfort out of their bike. Both options are quite robust, and to us, are quite easy on the eye. Both are made in Petaluma, California and offer a matching anodized finish with etched and inset logos. But rather than hubs, Jack chose White Industries M30 cranks and a White Industries headset. They’re perhaps best known for their hubs while not as loud a King hub, they’re similarly durable and made for the long haul. White Industries is perhaps a less-common sight around here. And no, that isn’t someone using a chainsaw from a mile away, that’s just how it sounds when a Chris King hub is freewheeling. The matte grey Chris King Boost hubs here are what they’re best known for, however, and are also made in America. For the rider, however, they are decently light for what amounts to a trail or all-mountain-oriented wheelset. King claims that this choice was made to keep up their B-corp certification, as FusionFiber says their carbon rims are recyclable at the end of their lifespan. The FusionFiber carbon rims are made here in Utah. The Chris King MTN30 wheels are also a relatively new release.

One might find some Fox Factory parts on a stock bike, but you’re unlikely to find the smattering of parts from Chris King and White Industries. Oh, and the matching gold coating looks cool.

The Fox Transfer has also been recently revised, and it too is plenty smooth. Regardless of whether or not you think that Kashima coat makes a difference in suspension performance, it is hard to deny just how smooth the new Fox 34 is, especially once mid-stroke support is dialed. The most obvious choice is probably the bits of gold on the bike, or rather, Kashima coat. On to the build, which is far nicer than any of the Chameleon standard builds, even the top-spec Chameleon S-Kit. That makes the Chameleon capable of shapeshifting from a trail hardtail, a single speed 29er, or even a big tire bikepacking rig. While it is naturally geared toward trail riding with a 130mm fork, it has three bottle cage mounts and reasonable pedaling geometry. It also has the option of a geared or single speed drivetrain option. Complete builds are available with 29” wheels front and rear or a mullet option with a 29” front wheel and a 27.5” rear wheel. This alloy hardtail is available both as a frame and as a complete bike. Let’s cover a bit of background on the Santa Cruz Chameleon.